TABLE 3 in Taxonomic Reconciliation of Smilacaceae in the Indian Subcontinent: Synonymy, Typification, Updated Inventory, and a Vegetative Key for Identification

TABLE 3. Morphological comparison of Smilax quadrumbellata with S. zeylanica. CharacterS. quadrumbellataS. zeylanicaHabitclimberclimberStem and branchstriated-angular; branches zig-zagstriated-angular; branches slightly zig-zagPricklesstraight or curved conical prickles, 1–2 mm longstraight or curved conical prickles, 1–2 mm longTendrilspresentpresentPetiole1.5–2 cm long, curved at the middle, sheathed with petiolar wings0.9–2 cm long, sheathed with petiolar wingsPetiolar wingsnarrow, 4–6 mm longnarrow, 4 mm longLeaf bladeselliptic or ovate-elliptic, 6–12 cm × 3–7 cm; base acute; apex mucronateelliptic or oblong or ovate-elliptic or ovate- lanceolate, 6–10 (–24) cm × 3–5 (–12) cm; base truncate or rounded or acute; apex mucronate or with a short cusp at apexNerves5, the median 3 diverging 5–10 mm above the base5, the median 3 diverging 4–8 mm above the baseUmbels in Inflorescence4 # (3 umbels intact in the holotype); umbels 7–10 flowered1–3; umbels 7–30 floweredReceptacleglobose, ca. 2 mm broadglobose, 2–4 mm broadPeduncle1–1.5 cm long1–2 cm longPedicel6–8 mm long5–10 mm longFruitberry, ca. 5 mm in diameterberry, 4–8 mm in diameter # The protologue mentions four umbels, however, the holotype and illustration provided in the protologue, three intact umbels were observed